Building Sand
Once we have cleared away the over burden of top soil etc. Our building sand accounts for approx the first 7 – 10m of the formation at our Quarry. Grain size is typically 0 – 2mm we have Grading Sheets detailing Moisture content and Particle size.
It feels soft and smooth when held in the hand, hence the term soft sand. Sand which is clean feels coarse in the hand, hence the term sharp. These are terms used by craftsmen. When soft sand is used, the mortar is very smooth and plastic and it is much easier to spread and to bed the bricks in than a mortar made of sharp or clean sand.
Naturally the bricklayer prefers to use a mortar made with soft or unwashed sand, often called ‘builders’ sand’. A good washed sand for mortar should, if clenched in the hand, leave no trace of yellow clay stains on the palm.
Silica Sand
At Ferns we supply Silica sand in two different forms.
W60 Moist and Loose: Screened and washed and dispatched on open back Vehicles.
W60 Dried: Is screened and washed and then passed through a drying process. It is then stored in silos and dispatched in tankers.
Silicon and oxygen are the earth’s two most abundant elements and together they make silica, one of the earth’s most common rock forming minerals. Silica occurs in three main crystalline forms. The principal occurrence is as the mineral quartz but it also occurs in other rarer mineral forms such as tridymite and cristobalite. It is a very durable mineral resistant to heat and chemical attack and it is these properties that have made it industrially interesting to man. The first industrial uses of crystalline silica were probably related to metallurgical and glass making activities a few thousand years BC.
It has continued to support human development throughout history, being a key raw material in the industrial revolution especially in the glass, foundry and ceramics industries. Silica contributes to today’s information technology revolution being used in the plastics of computer mice and providing the raw material for silicon chips. For industrial use, pure deposits of silica sand is capable of yielding products where at least 95% silica is required. Often much higher purity values are needed. Deposits where such sand can be found are comparatively rare in the UK.
Bagged Aggregates
We offer a wide range of bagged aggregates.
These include Topsoil (BS3882), Type 1, sharp sand, Ballast, Shingle, Building and reject sand. Flood defense and traffic management sand bags.
Southern Side Sand
This is a mixed particle sand containing fines.
It compacts very well and has excellent drainage properties. Its main use is as a back-fill material usually blinded over services to protect them. We have a grading sheet for this product.
Equestrian Sand
Sand is the key ingredient in all good arena footing. However, not every sand is suitable for riding arenas.
If the arena footing is hard, the horse will shorten its stride to minimize jarring or adversely modify his jumping form to avoid the sting of landing. Hard footing will also stress their joints.
If footing is too soft and rolls away under the hooves, it will cause strain to their soft tissues – tendon, ligaments, and muscles. If the footing is slippery, or insufficient so that the hooves penetrate to a slippery base, the horse may fall or feel insecure and move cautiously.
Natural Sand: Natural sand has eroded from mountain rock and is mined from where it was deposited. The host rock determines the exact mineral composition, however most sand is composed of silica, from broken down quartz crystals. This type of sand is extremely resistant to weathering and breakdown due to its chemical hardness, and will last longer as arena footing. These hard sand particles have been transported and tumbled by water, and the time spent tumbling determines an angular or round grain shape.
Manufactured Sand: Rock quarries crush rock into various sizes, and the smallest particles are called ‘fines’ and sold as Manufactured Sand, Man-made Sand, Crusher Fines, or Stone Dust.
Top Soil
Our Topsoil is Blended on site daily using an imported Compost to meet a BS 3882 Standard (General Purpose Landscaping). Our process is consistent and closely monitored and tested for compliance since its inception in 2015 by Tim O’Hare Associates.
What is PAS100 certified compost?
PAS100 Compost is compost produced to standards laid down by the Composting Association’s PAS100 accreditation Scheme and certified by the British Standards Institution. This quality management standard was established to ensure that production processes comply with strict standards and rigorous testing procedures.
Premium Grade Top Soil
BS3882 standard topsoil Screened 10mm down premium soil where only the best soil, sand and compost mix will suffice. Suitable for soil conditioning, planters and plant bed.
